Who will be the next Nike athlete to bring shame?

[r2473]

Originally Posted by iradical18

Nah I don't think it'll be anyone on that list. However if the ITF gets strict I predict quite a few stories coming to light.

What do you mean? They just gave Barbora Zahlavova Strycova a 6-month ban, didn't they?

I hear the ITF may have found some evidence against the #747 tennis player as well, so they are obviously cracking down......

[J011yroger]

Originally Posted by Moz

I would like to know what I win?

Depends if you are in the degenerate, or reform stage of the cycle.

J

[Relinquis]

It's not a team issue. I think it is a corporate and management issue.

You guys really think the 'team' would rather face a superstar like Cristiano or LeBron* or such instead of having them on their team because of sexual orientation? Please. Sportsfolk want to win above all else. It's what defines them. (I'm not suggesting they are gay, just examples of really good players).

With major career defining events (world cup, superbowl, etc...) and so much money at stake players want the best guy on their team. They'll adjust if one of the superstars comes out. Players/team are a none issue.

Originally Posted by volleygirl

Yea, they should come out because we all know how much that will help the team and isnt that what all gay players really care about?

How is the 'team' benefiting from them hiding it? If a footballer or NFL player wants to kiss his boyfriend after a win, or have him cheer on by the sidelines why not? It it "all about the team" when players have their girlfriends or latest totty around?

That's what I like about tennis. No team BS excuse that can be used to restrict people.

One of these days a big player from a major team based sport will come out while still playing and achieving success. It will be a bit of scandal at first, but then the marketing folks will see the $$$ potential. Then you'll have straight players lining up to have a gay image so they can get in on the sponsorship money... mark this post for future reference... Nike execs will be begging that it is one of their players.


* I don't watch NBA, am assuming LeBron is good.

[volleygirl]

Originally Posted by Relinquis

It's not a team issue. I think it is a corporate and management issue.

You guys really think the 'team' would rather face a superstar like Cristiano or LeBron* or such instead of having them on their team because of sexual orientation? Please. Sportsfolk want to win above all else. It's what defines them. (I'm not suggesting they are gay, just examples of really good players).

With major career defining events (world cup, superbowl, etc...) and so much money at stake players want the best guy on their team. They'll adjust if one of the superstars comes out. Players/team are a none issue.



How is the 'team' benefiting from them hiding it? If a footballer or NFL player wants to kiss his boyfriend after a win, or have him cheer on by the sidelines why not? It it "all about the team" when players have their girlfriends or latest totty around?

That's what I like about tennis. No team BS excuse that can be used to restrict people.

One of these days a big player from a major team based sport will come out while still playing and achieving success. It will be a bit of scandal at first, but then the marketing folks will see the $$$ potential. Then you'll have straight players lining up to have a gay image so they can get in on the sponsorship money... mark this post for future reference... Nike execs will be begging that it is one of their players.


* I don't watch NBA, am assuming LeBron is good.

Wake up, wake up because youre dreaming.

[krz]

Originally Posted by Relinquis

It's not a team issue. I think it is a corporate and management issue.

You guys really think the 'team' would rather face a superstar like Cristiano or LeBron* or such instead of having them on their team because of sexual orientation? Please. Sportsfolk want to win above all else. It's what defines them. (I'm not suggesting they are gay, just examples of really good players).

With major career defining events (world cup, superbowl, etc...) and so much money at stake players want the best guy on their team. They'll adjust if one of the superstars comes out. Players/team are a none issue.

Here is what Chris Culliver had to say and at least 2 others on that team agree. It directly answers your question.

"I don't do the gay guys. I don't do that," Culliver told Artie Lange on his radio show Tuesday, via Yahoo! Sports, when asked if a gay teammate would be welcomed.

Culliver was asked if there were any gay players on the 49ers.

"We don't have any gay guys on the team," Culliver said. "They gotta get up outta here if they do. Can't be with that sweet stuff."

If a player was gay, Culliver suggested the player should keep that fact to himself.

"Yeah, come out 10 years later after that," Culliver said.

Here is what "corporate/management" had to say.

There is no place for discrimination within our organization at any level. We have and always will proudly support the LGBT community."

It would be PR suicide which = losses in revenue for corporation to discriminate/be non-accepting of the LGBT community. (unless you're chick fil-a)

Money drives everything in corporations. It is a bigger driver than any will to win from an athlete. Just look at the huge drops in production after contract years. Why would Mario Williams choose my Buffalo Bills? because we are winners? More likely because we gave him 100mil.

[volleygirl]

^^^

Exactly right KRZ, and thats a guy playing in San Francisco who said that.

[Relinquis]

Top players, not some no-name lower guy.

i don't know NFL players, but if someone like Tom Brady* (he is good, right?) or of equal stature came out the scrubs on teh team will just have to keep their thought to themselves.

that's what we're talking about. I know football, if someone like Cristiano Ronaldo* came out it wouldn't matter what the lower players thought on the team. Same with Jordan or someone like that. Top players worth 10x other players on the team, not some scrub.


* Again, just an example of a good player. Not saying they are gay.

[kadishack]

LeBron James...

[krz]

Originally Posted by Relinquis

Top players, not some no-name lower guy.

i don't know NFL players, but if someone like Tom Brady* (he is good, right?) or of equal stature came out the scrubs on teh team will just have to keep their thought to themselves.

that's what we're talking about. I know football, if someone like Cristiano Ronaldo* came out it wouldn't matter what the lower players thought on the team. Same with Jordan or someone like that. Top players worth 10x other players on the team, not some scrub.


* Again, just an example of a good player. Not saying they are gay.

So, in this hypothetical situation that cannot be proven, disprove, or argued with any real world examples. Most likely, Robert Kraft would then cut Tom Brady?

[babyhagrid]

It could be an athlete that has faced adversity, if you look at the pattern of Nike athletes it has been, a black golfer that has faced challenges from racist golf courses, a cyclist that has fought cancer and survived & a sprinter born without fully functional legs (hence the amputation) and then managed to take on governing bodies and compete against non-impaired opposition. I dont know any american sports (baseball, basketball etc). Is there anyone on the Nike roster that fits the bill?

[Relinquis]

Originally Posted by krz

So, in this hypothetical situation that cannot be proven, disprove, or argued with any real world examples. Most likely, Robert Kraft would then cut Tom Brady?

well, until a player of the status of Cristiano Ronaldo comes out we don't have empirical evidence either way.

lower level folk always have to tow the line and not rock the boat; they lack leverage unless they bind together. superstars are the ones who have the brand power and leverage to change things. champions like navratilova and such. it happened in individual sports, it will happen in team sports. just a matter of time until a big enough star who is gay comes out.

I think it will happen in Europe first in a few big team sports before the US. The US tends to be more puritanical about such matters and Americans play a lot of team sports that others don't get involved in (NFL, Baseball, etc...). Look at the fuss Tiger got just for a few text messages and having a bit of fun on the side. in france it would have been one paragraph on the 5th page of the newspaper... it's a personal matter... It's 2013.

we'll just have to wait and see. mark this thread please so you can refer to it.

[PSNELKE]

Originally Posted by Moz

Before I tell you all the correct answer, I would like to know what I win?

Ah, never mind. The answer is Jeter, but not the baseball player.

Mo would be the biggest can of worms and there are always rumours.

Lol as if anybody outside the US knows who Carmelita Jeter is.

[PSNELKE]

Originally Posted by Relinquis

Top players, not some no-name lower guy.

i don't know NFL players, but if someone like Tom Brady* (he is good, right?) or of equal stature came out the scrubs on teh team will just have to keep their thought to themselves.

that's what we're talking about. I know football, if someone like Cristiano Ronaldo* came out it wouldn't matter what the lower players thought on the team. Same with Jordan or someone like that. Top players worth 10x other players on the team, not some scrub.


* Again, just an example of a good player. Not saying they are gay.

Heck he'd completely use his popularity if he came out.

[Bobby Jr]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

You're going to speak about class when you're accusing another person of his sexual orientation in a negative manner? Yeah Ok.

Jebus... 0/10 at reading comprehension for you today.

[maverick66]

Originally Posted by Relinquis

I think it will happen in Europe first in a few big team sports before the US. The US tends to be more puritanical about such matters and Americans play a lot of team sports that others don't get involved in (NFL, Baseball, etc...). Look at the fuss Tiger got just for a few text messages and having a bit of fun on the side. in france it would have been one paragraph on the 5th page of the newspaper... it's a personal matter... It's 2013.

we'll just have to wait and see. mark this thread please so you can refer to it.

Thing is with football especially is they are pretty religious. Thats where alot of the dislike for gay people comes from. yes there is the its a gay dude in the locker and all that jazz but for almost all these sports in the US you hear guys thanking jesus and god. So your not gonna get them to support gay guys in their league.

Also American athletes in the big sports tend to put out the tough guy persona. The everything testosterone good vibe. Gay men are not seen as fitting into that crowd. They very well could and odds are there are a few right now doing it but they aint gonna come out of the closet while playing and risk alienating their teams.

[PSNELKE]

Originally Posted by maverick66

Thing is with football especially is they are pretty religious. Thats where alot of the dislike for gay people comes from. yes there is the its a gay dude in the locker and all that jazz but for almost all these sports in the US you hear guys thanking jesus and god. So your not gonna get them to support gay guys in their league.

Also American athletes in the big sports tend to put out the tough guy persona. The everything testosterone good vibe. Gay men are not seen as fitting into that crowd. They very well could and odds are there are a few right now doing it but they aint gonna come out of the closet while playing and risk alienating their teams.

Well said.

[Sander001]

I remember hearing about Jeter giving Jessica Alba a sexually transmitted disease.

edit: yep it was herpes. Scandal enough that

[Moz]

Originally Posted by PSNELKE

Lol as if anybody outside the US knows who Carmelita Jeter is.

I assume you didn't look at my location then.

[Sentinel]

Originally Posted by PSNELKE

Lol as if anybody outside the US knows who Carmelita Jeter is.

Just glancing through. Actually its the other way round. I was seriously gonna ask if "Jeter" is the husband of Carmelita. Carmelita is a sprinter and that's an international sport.

OTOH, people outside the US don't suspect CJ. During the Olympics I was reading some T&F site ( i think it was something like letsrun.com) -- it was full of people accusing CJ of doping -- these were IIRC Americans who had followed her progress in college and said "she was slow as mollasses" in college, and in her earlier 20's and now suddenly in the late 20's she's going below 11 secs. Obviously, we folks outside don't know all this.

SHe was nicknamed "Cheater" i/o Jeter, and a lot of other ugly names. believe me, this place is like a church compared to that site. I couldn't read it beyond a couple of days. Americans accusing US athletes of doping ! Very negative atmosphere.

[Moz]

The irony is PSNELKE appears to think that the baseball Jeter is a household name in Europe. What with our obsession with baseball and all that.

Sentinel - sounds like letsrun. There was a fuss recently because apparently she is associated with a banned inidividual but denies it. In addition to all the other factors listed.